Sicilian Roasted Cauliflower
The best part of the salad? I whipped it up using whatever I had in my pantry. A typical recipe for Sicilian roasted cauliflower might have raisins, pine nuts, and mix in red wine vinegar. But who’s to say your version can’t deviate from the original? Here I used dried cherries and apple cider vinegar because that’s what I had in my pantry. Really, any vinegar [champagne or white wine vinegar], dried fruit [golden raisins or currants — even dried apricots], and nuts [walnuts or almonds or pepitas] would be excellent options here, too. With cauliflower in season, this dish’s ingredients are readily available. BTW, I’m a huge cauliflower fan, remember this recipe for cauliflower soup?
Ingredients for 4 servings:
1 large cauliflower, stem and core removed, cut into florets
2 garlic cloves, peeled, smashed and chopped
1/4 cup olive oil, divided into two 2-tbsp portions
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or more to taste
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup unsweetened dried cherries
2 tbsp chopped parsley
Salt + pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Place cauliflower florets and garlic on baking sheet and toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, bake until golden brown and just cooked through, about 20 minutes
In a dry non-stick pan, heat pine nuts until they are warm and toasted
Vigorously whisk 2 tbsp olive oil with apple cider vinegar to create a vinaigrette, season with salt and pepper, if desired, add more vinegar to taste
In a large bowl, combine cauliflower, cherries, pine nuts, parsley and vinaigrette
Season to taste with salt and pepper
Serve alone or with a simple protein
I enjoyed this salad both alone and with a poached egg. Each was delicious and satisfying. I bought a gorgeous orange cauliflower from the farmer’s market and it added amazing color to the dish. But certainly a traditional white cauliflower would work just as well.
Have you updated a classic recipe? What’s your favorite way to prepare cauliflower? Please share how you enjoyed this dish!
-MW.
